The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) and other professional journalists’ organisations united on January 13 in nation-wide protests over the murder of Uma Singh. The print and broadcast journalist, aged in her mid-20s, was murdered in Janakpur in south-eastern Nepal on January 11.
“The IFJ joins the FNJ and all journalists in Nepal in expressing outrage and grief at the brutal murder of Uma Singh”, the IFJ’s Asia-Pacific Director, Jacqueline Park, said.
“We call upon high-level authorities in Nepal to enter into good faith talks with the FNJ and all other relevant bodies to improve the media freedom situation in the country.”
According to the FNJ, an IFJ affiliate, Janakpur town shut down on January 13 as thousands of its citizens joined in Uma Singh’s funeral procession. All radio stations in the surrounding districts suspended their programming to run tributes to her life and work.
The FNJ noted that police had reportedly made four arrests for the murder, which took place at Uma Singh’s home and involved an estimated 15 persons, armed with knives and other lethal weapons. The identities of those apprehended have not been revealed, ostensibly because that would compromise further investigation.
At a press conference in Kathmandu on January 14, the FNJ released its preliminary findings on the murder.
The FNJ believes it is possible that the people responsible for the disappearance of Uma Singh’s father and brother three years ago may have committed the murder to cover their trail.
Uma Singh’s father and brother were abducted in 2006 before the ceasefire agreement between the Maoist insurgents and the then royal government of Nepal came into force. They are now believed to be dead.
Maoist cadres are believed to have been behind the abductions. In recent months, Uma Singh had written articles fiercely critical of the state of lawlessness in her region of Nepal, on account of the continuing operations of various armed groups.
The FNJ is engaged in discussions with Nepal’s top leadership over pursuing all available leads and bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.
The FNJ has also placed before the head of Nepal’s Constituent Assembly a demand for an all-party committee to inquire urgently into all issues with a bearing on media freedom and safety.
The IFJ fully endorses the demand by the FNJ and its other affiliates in Nepal that the authorities initiate swift and accountable action in this case and send a clear message that attacks on journalists and media freedom will not be tolerated.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries